Why are the spelling, grammar and punctuation on Yahoo answers so abysmal?

Question

I know that there are accepted abbreviations for certain words but even then, the rest of the words are often badly spelt, the grammar is atrocious and the punctuation non-existent.
Have education standards really dropped to such a low level?

Glad that some of you managed to pick up that the question IS grammatically correct.
It is not a question of passing a GCSE exam (I failed English Language O-level first time around), it is a question of being able to express yourself in an intelligible manner. I can't read half of YA it is so bad. And that is taking into account those who are not native speakers.
FYI, I have enough experience with non-native speakers, living in Germany and working in the Netherlands, to be able to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Dyslexia is a problem but not one that affects such a large number of YA users - then it is an excuse.

I am by no means looking for perfection - ARE is correct in the question but I wouldn't immediately fall over IS; I just want to be able to read the questions and answers, preferably in an understandable form of English.

Bungy, I checked once, when I had finished.

fox00952: yes, I used abysmal. And?
I don't understand your answer.

Thanks TROLL. Du auch!
If you can't do an umlaut, put an e after the vowel: "schoenen".
Believe me, I do try very hard to understand some of the posts but they are often so disjointed that there could be three or more different meanings.

Answer 1

Haben einen schonen tag-
Unable to do umlauts sorry but you can understand this.

As long as we can understand each other there should be no problem, language is dynamic. There is obviously a difference in language used by the younger people influenced by "text speak".
I have no problem if I can understand the text, however sometimes it is difficult, I will have to try harder but some people could make a little more effort.

Answer 2

This is interesting. I just asked a similar question a few days ago. An error or 2 is acceptable, but when it gets to the point that you have no idea what is being asked, then it's awful. Simple words are misspelled and I take a look at the keyboard to see if it was just a typing error. It isn't. Letters are no where near each other. Spell check exists, but I don't think spell check could decipher the words I have seen on here. I saw someone spell should like this(shood). It's funny, but in the same sense it is very sad. Internet lingo is totally different. It is basically shorthand. People in which English is a second language write better than some of the sh.. I've seen on here. It's really pathetic. I understand that not everyone has the same education level, but if you are in school now, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to spell simple words correctly. Grammar is not as big an issue with me as spelling is. If you can read, you can get past grammar errors.

Answer 3

No, I think it should be 'are' as first written. The OP is talking about 3 different things, read it again. It doesn't quite scan, but it is correct. He could, I think, have said "why is the spelling, the grammar and the punctuation...".

A lot of people use the word 'spelt'.

I agree with the OP, I wouldn't go so far as to question all spelling as who wants to spell-check a posting? However, over use of abbrevs. is irritating and often renders a post unreadable. I blame texting. I suspect kids are taught to reasonable standard still, it's just that it's 'cool' to not care about it - which is why one respondant told the OP to 'get a life'. It amuses me that it's cool to be thick, not a good sign for the country as a whole though - fortunately I don't really care about the country as a whole. Cool, huh! ;-)

Answer 4

Most of the spelling mistakes i make tend to be typos - i don't always read what I've written through so often miss them. Some words the spell check doesn't pick up though. Plus I'm often writing in a hurry because I've either got something else to do or i want to get all the information down before i forget what i wanted to say. Deliberate mis-spellings and text speak do irritate me a lot and i don't tend to answer those who use them. This is suppose to be fun and informative though so just because someone might struggle with spelling or grammar it doesn't make their views any less valid. Should people with genuine difficulties with the use of language be tarred with the same brush as those who are lazy or ignorant ie those with dyslexia or learning difficulties? Grammar isn't taught in schools like it used to be, i learnt most of my grammar in a level french rather than in English lessons so is it surprising people don't know how to use language appropriately?

Answer 5

A man after my own heart. Some people on YA need help but I just can't understand their question. I despair. If you look at the questions in Education & Reference, most kids at all levels aren't bothered to learn. They would like the general public to get them through their exams. I don't really know why it's like this. Perhaps we are more aware of these issues with more email etc. Bad English wouldn't have come to light before when there wasn't so much writing going on in the public domain. Maybe. 'on there own' and 'grammer' and 'to many times' and 'his sister's dont care'... Yes, it's all shocking. Still, keep the banner of good English flying and try to influence as many people as you can.

Answer 6

I answered a similar answer on here2 days ago and the same thing applies.
Just because this is only a q & a forum doesnt mean we have to be morons about grammer. We all make mistakes but some one here have made it a career. The text speak really annoys me, it shows an inability to want to better oneself as does the punctuation mistakes.
My English is not perfect by any means and I am trying to teach my son good English but society and the media have a lot to answer for.

Answer 7

I think people treat the internet more casually and are not feeling they are entering in for a grammar examination, but want to feel relaxed enough to put forward their viewpoint on whatever the question or answer is. As with most people, my spelling or grammar does slip especially on the net.
Dont forget also, English may not be peoples' first language on Yahoo answers.
If you dont mind me saying, you seem a little too uptight with how the spelling or grammar is rather than quality/content of the question or answer.

Answer 8

its called lazyitis (too lazy to use the correct grammar)


edit: well this takes the biscuit. little boy has to learn a christmas poem for school, he brought it home all nicely typed out, or so i thought until i read through it, the teacher has only gone and spelt shepherds as "shepards" what hope have the kids got if the teachers cant spell either.

Answer 9

I most wholeheartedly agree with you dear boy.The misuse and lazy abbreviations of the Queens English is an absolute disgrace.I'm afraid that deportation to a far flung penal colony may be the only solution,leaving only the articulate gentry to continue with the most beautiful language in the world.

Answer 10

I asked a similar question and got lots of rude replies.
People do not take the time or the care to check what they have written. Perhaps the mind thinks quicker than the hands can type.